HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

Working Group on Communications

Mandate and membership

The Working Group on Communications (WGC) is designated by the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee from among its members for a period of three years (mandate renewable once). It consists of five independent and highly qualified experts and is geographically representative of the five regional groups. The Working Group meets twice a year for a period of five working days to assess the admissibility and the merits of a communication, including whether the communication alone or in combination with other communications, appears to reveal a consistent pattern of gross and reliably attested violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. All admissible communications and recommendations thereon are transmitted to the Working Group on Situations.

The membership for the Working Group in 2014/2015 is as follows:

Name

Nationality

Mr. Saeed Mohamed AL FAIHANI

Bahrain, 2015

Mr. Mario L. CORIOLANO

Argentina, 2015

Mr. Mikhael LEBEDEV

Russian Federation, 2016

Ms. Katharina PABEL

Austria, 2015

Mr. Imeru Tamrat YIGEZU

Ethiopia, 2015

Sessions

In 2015, the Working Group on Communications will hold two sessions:

16 February to 20 February (16th session)

17 August to 21 August (17th session)

Decisions

All admissible communications are transmitted to the State concerned to obtain the view of the latter on the allegations of the violations. During its session, the Working Group on Communications may decide to:

dismiss a communication;

keep a communication under review and request the State concerned to provide further information within a reasonable time;

transmit the complaint to the Working Group on Situations.

In accordance with paragraph 106 of resolution 5/1, both the author of a communication and the State concerned, are informed of the proceeding at each stage.